QF9 Diverted to Singapore

[Quickstatus]

Welcome to AFF @Rohan747_300 !

 

[Quickstatus]

But visa free entry into SIN v CGK might have been factored

No issues when QF landed in Baku. Usually evisa is required for Australian travellers.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

For all those people saying, why not divert to CGK it's closer? Well you need to think about whether that airport is suitable. Yes, wide bodies can land just fine in CGK, but if it was mechanical what are the odds they have the parts and crew necessary to fix what is broken? If it was a medical emergency, well things get a bit more complicated and really depends on the nature of the medical emergency. If there is a medical doctor on board (which I reckon given how many passengers were likely on the plane is a possibility) it will take time to determine what is wrong and how serious it is. Sometimes a medical emergency isn't a huge deal in the sense that it's life or death and the plane can continue on to the final destination. In other cases, it may very well be, but then the question is what airport is nearby that has suitable medical facilities for the condition. Now I suspect Indonesia has a decent medical system, particularly in Jakarta, but depending on how specialized the issue is, it may make sense to spend an hour more heading to S'pore where I hear the medical system is top notch.

Those are my 2 cents.

-RooFlyer88

 

[jb747]

For all those people saying, why not divert to CGK it's closer? Well you need to think about whether that airport is suitable. Yes, wide bodies can land just fine in CGK, but if it was mechanical what are the odds they have the parts and crew necessary to fix what is broken?

From a pilots perspective, very little consideration is given to where there are parts available. You have a list of runways that you'll use, and the overriding consideration on the day, is what the weather is like. Medical emergencies will not have you diverting to anywhere other than a major airport, whereas aviation ones could have you going anywhere.

If it was a medical emergency, well things get a bit more complicated and really depends on the nature of the medical emergency. If there is a medical doctor on board (which I reckon given how many passengers were likely on the plane is a possibility) it will take time to determine what is wrong and how serious it is.

A doctor may be able to help, though from experience, the most useful people to have are actually ambulance staff. In any event, they do not get to decide where, or whether, you go. Medlink will make the medical call, and the Captain will make the overall decision.

 

[Quickstatus]

If there is a medical doctor on board (which I reckon given how many passengers were likely on the plane is a possibility) it will take time to determine what is wrong and how serious it is

Its no use asking an onboard gynaecologist to sort out a chest pain
Or a surgeon to sort out a seizure.
Or an anaesthetist to sort out an abdominal pain

A Dr might be able to shed some light about possible diagnosis.
Here is an example:
Chest pain - its either heart related or it is not. There are some indications that help with the differentiation. But without further investigations and tests, it is impossible to know. Where does one get tests done at 39,000 feet.

Which Dr would be the best? - Someone with recent experience in ICU, emergency medicine would be a better Dr.
But then remember what Drs need to function - they need an entire infrastructure around them - nurses especially, drugs, equipment, testing labs.
Without that not much they can do - except for First aid, and many are not that good at it.

And does a Dr know where to land or when or if? No

Everyone should earn CPR. You dont need a medical degree to resuscitate someone back to life.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Everyone should earn CPR.

And I do think it should be a worldwide requirement for AEDs to be held on board.

 

[Quickstatus]

And I do think it should be a worldwide requirement for AEDs to be held on board.

Down in Jindabyne some people have started to put AED on various places.
The common refrain is that its available at short notice Except that it may be a drive to one end of town to get it.
I questioned whether that would work if the return trip took 20 minutes.
Invariably they said "yes , better than nothing".

When i explained that even with AED, CPR needs to be done, and AED success really depends on quick initiation of CPR. Waiting for 20 minutes for the AED to turn up without effective CPR in the meantime is an exercise in futility
I explained that there are CPR courses that people can do. No one took any interest
I also explained that an AED will not always deliver a shock. They only deliver a shock IF and only IF a heart rhythm is present AND is a "shockable" rhythm - a heart rhythm that is amenable to be shocked
If the heart rhythm is a flat line - ie no heart rhythm, it will NOT deliver the shock and the only option is a CPR.
I told them them this but I got the sense no one listened.

Invariably most people think that AED is the lifesaver (Packer Whacker style), but forget that it goes hand in hand with CPR which Packer got at the same time
It is great IF it is at hand and IF the heart rhythm is shockable. CPR on the other hand is always required. Even after a shock and you get a pulse back the recommendation these days is to continue CPR until Blood pressure is good or the patient regains consciousness.

QF aircraft have AED (all or some?) and a "physicians kit". There is a stethoscope but they are el cheapo ones good enough to take a blood pressure but useless for anything else. A blood pressure machine of sorts, some IV fluids drips, some meds....Maybe even some equipment to manage an airway so the passenger can breathe. I suspect even some adrenaline. But if you have to use adrenaline, then you are really in strife

There was another thread about this some years ago

Also Beware what you ask for. Some Drs are not Drs. A PhD in ancient Greek mythology is not, nor is a dentist or chiro (yes some chiros call themselves Drs). Miss QS who is a vet gets called Dr. I suppose mammalian physiology and anatomy is basically similar - there is a heart that pumps blood round and round and air that goes in and out

Everyone should learn CPR.

 

[RooFlyer]

A Dr might be able to shed some light about possible diagnosis.

Except maybe .. a Dr of philosophy (history)

 

[jb747]

A doctorate of mathematics would be a great help. You'd know how bad your odds are...

 

[AIRwin]

My far-from-straightforward flight from Perth to Europe

Last weekend, I jumped on a direct flight from Perth to London to head off on holiday, so imagine my surprise when I ended up in Singapore. It was the first of many curveballs, which ended in a silver lining.

www.perthnow.com.au

 

[Cheesey Mac]

This actually happened to me once, I had a rather significant medical issue on a flight from Melbourne to LAX, and we made it to the final destination despite the issue occurring about 3-4 hours into the flight (without going into detail, essentially appendicitis).

Wasn't diverted because the only real option was Hawaii, and at that time I was on the Qantas med-kit pain relief and was asleep. Did end up needing to have surgery in LA though, so I became the poster boy for travel insurance.